geo.wikisort.org - Island

Merelava (or Mere Lava) is an island in the Banks Islands of the Torba Province of northern Vanuatu.

Merelava

Native name: Mwerlap
Location of Merelava in the Banks Islands
Geography
Location	Pacific Ocean
Coordinates	14.45°S 168.05°E / -14.45; 168.05
Archipelago	Vanuatu, Banks Islands
Area	18 km2 (6.9 sq mi)
Highest point	Mount Teu
Administration
Vanuatu
Province	Torba Province
Demographics
Population	650 (2009)

Names

The inhabitants of Merelava call their own island Mwerlap, more accurately N̄wërlap IPA: [ŋʷɞrlap].

The name Merelava or M̄ere Lava reflects the way it is called in the neighbouring Mota language ‒ phonetically [ŋ͡mʷereˈlaβa]. According to Codrington,[1] the etymology of this name (in Proto-Torres-Banks) is likely to be *mʷera lava, literally “the big boy”; it contrasts with the neighbouring island M̄erig [ŋ͡mʷeˈriɣ], from *mʷera riɣi “the small boy”. These words refer metaphorically to the islands themselves.

Geography

Merelava is situated in the southeastern part of the archipelago near Mota and Merig. Merelava has also been known as Star Island. It is located about 50 kilometres (31 miles) east of Gaua.

Merelava is a nearly round volcanic island with a diameter of almost 4.5 km and an area of 18 km². It is formed by a basaltic stratovolcano, which reaches in Mount Teu, also called Star Peak, a height of 883 m above the sea level.

The main village is Tesmet on the west coast of the island. Other villages, starting clockwise at Tesmet, are Levetmise (northwest), Lekweal (north), Lewetneak (northeast), and Aot (southeast, second largest).

History

Merelava was first sighted by Europeans during the Spanish expedition of Pedro Fernández de Quirós, from 25 to 29 April 1606. The island's name was then charted as San Marcos.[2]

Merelava was reportedly seen smoking when it was first encountered by Quirós.[3]

Population and language

The island has about 650 inhabitants.[4] They all speak an Oceanic language known as Mwerlap.[5]

References

Bibliography

• Codrington, Robert H.; Palmer, Jim (1896), A Dictionary of the Language of Mota, Sugarloaf Island, Banks' Islands, with a short grammar and index, London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge
• François, Alexandre (2005), "Unraveling the history of vowels in seventeen north Vanuatu languages" (PDF), Oceanic Linguistics, 44 (2): 443–504, doi:10.1353/ol.2005.0034, S2CID 131668754

External links

• Linguistic map of north Vanuatu, showing location of Merelava.

На других языках

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[de] Mere Lava

Mere Lava, auch Merelava, seltener Star Peak Island, ist die südlichste und gleichsam östlichste Insel der Banks-Inseln im Norden des pazifischen Inselstaates Vanuatu. Administrativ gehört die Insel, wie alle Banks-Inseln, zur Provinz Torba.

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- [en] Merelava

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[fr] Mere Lava

Mere Lava (ou Méré Lava, Merelava, Merlav ou Mwerlap) est une île de la mer de Corail, dans le nord du Vanuatu, située au sud-est de l’archipel des îles Banks. La pointe ouest de l'île est frontalière de l'océan Pacifique.

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[ru] Мере-Лава

Мерелава (Мере-Лава) (англ. Merelava) — остров в группе островов Банкс в северном Вануату. Расположен в юго-восточной части рядом с островами Мота и Мериг, в 50 км от острова Гауа. Наивысшая точка — 883 м.[1] Административно относится к провинции Торба. Известен также, как Стар-Айлэнд.

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